1.1.3 Planning

At the planning stage, the case manager and the key individuals identified at the assessment stage develop ways to address the needs and issues of the family and the children. 

• Standards

  Every open family service or child in care file requires a written plan attached on CFSIS.

  Three types of plans that may be required: safety plan, ongoing family plan, and child in care plan.

  Safety Plan – a specialized plan that addresses what a family or community will do to ensure the immediate safety of children

  Ongoing Family Plan – addresses needs identified in the assessment phase and what will be done to strengthen the ability of a person or family to care for children

  Child in Care Plan – addresses what will be done to meet the needs of a child in care of the agency

  Safety Plan

  1. Initiating a Safety Plan -If the case manager has conducted a Safety Assessment due to concerns about the immediate safety of a child and a Safety Plan is required in order for the child to safely remain in the home, the case manager:
  • meets with the family to create the plan and then meets with the supervisor to approve the Safety Plan. A written copy of the Safety Plan must be given to the family.
  • ensures that when a Safety Plan involves actions by a child, that the child is able to take the action outlined in the plan, understands what to do and when to do it.
  • ensures that when a Safety Plan involving actions by people who are not members of the household, these non-household members understand the specific actions they are responsible for and how these actions help ensure the safety of the children. All non-household members are to sign off on the safety plan.
  2. Review Safety Plan -In the event that there are changes to the family circumstances a review will be required. These changes include but are not limited to:
  • change of agency
  • changes of family/household composition
  • birth or adoption
  • extended family moving in or out
  • family moves
  • any new incident where harm or imminent dangers are identified
  3. Failure to Follow Safety Plan - When a parent or caregiver fails to follow the plan, the case manager ensures the safety of the child through completion of a new safety assessment to determine safety in the household.

  Ongoing Family Plan

  4. Managing the Planning Process – The case manager:
  • meets with the family within 10 working days of an approved assessment to begin the planning process
  • the plan is dated, signed and attached to the Child and Family Services Information System (CFSIS)
  • a written copy of the Ongoing Family Plan must be given to the family
  5. Areas to be Addressed – The case manager ensures that the Ongoing Family Plan specifically addresses:
  • the ongoing safety, security and well-being of the children
  • actions to improve the ability of parents to care for their children
  • the need for a stable, permanent family environment

  If there is a child in care, the family plan also addresses:

  • the needs of both the children and the family when the goal is reunification
  • the activities to be undertaken by all the partners to enable reunification
  • contact with parents, siblings or extended family even when reunification is unlikely or not possible
  6. Approval of Plans
  • A plan is not final until the supervisor has reviewed and approved it.
  • When a child or family is transferred to the care of another agency, a supervisor ensures that a plan is in place that identifies:
  • actions required by agencies, the family and any other service providers to ensure continuity of care and how any safety issues and risk factors are to be handled during the transfer process.
  7. Updating Plans –The case manager ensures:
  • Ongoing Family Plans are updated when new information is received or when changes within the household inhibits the plan being acted on and a new assessment is required. If there is an allegation of abuse/neglect, a new safety assessment and probability of future harm need to be completed by the worker.
  • The case manager reviews the Ongoing Family Plan and updates the plan with the family every three months.
  8. Preparing to Return a child to Family – Prior to returning a child in care to their family, the case manager:
  • engages the children and family in reviewing the plan and completing the objectives
  • assesses that the issues related to the child being placed into care have been addressed and it is safe for the child to return home
  • completes a Safety Assessment. The Safety Assessment must result in a determination that the household is “safe” in order to have the child return home.

  Child in Care Plan

  9. Developing a Child in Care Plan – Child in Care Plans should be created within 30 days of the placement of a child, prior to returning a child to the family, within one month of a family assessment that suggest a child has needs that cannot be managed by the family and is likely to be in care for more than six months and when a child is in need of permanency planning.
     When developing a child in care plan:
  • agencies should accommodate reasonable requests by caregivers, parents and children for participation of an individual they identify as a support
  • agencies should seek out participation of individuals (both extended family members and service providers) towards planning for ongoing safety and well-being
    

  The Child in Care Plan is dated, signed and attached to the Child and Family Services Information System (CFSIS).

  10. Areas to be Addressed – The case manager ensures that the Child in Care Plan specifically addresses:
  • the needs of both the children and the family
  • the activities to be undertaken by all the partners to enable reunification including contact between the children and the family
  • contact with parents, siblings or extended family even when reunification is unlikely or not possible
  • appropriate matching for the cultural, spiritual and psychosocial needs of the child
  • opportunities for children to establish other life-long relationships
  11. Approval of Plans
  • A plan is not final until the supervisor has reviewed and approved the Child in Care Plan.  This should be done within five working days of receiving the plan from the case manager.
  • The case manager fully explains and shares the Child in Care Plan with the children in a manner respecting varying abilities, language and reading levels.
  • When a child or family is transferred to the care of another agency, a supervisor ensures that a plan is in place that identifies the actions required by both agencies, the family and any other service providers to ensure continuity of care and how any safety issues and risk factors are to be handled during the transfer process.
  12. Updating Plans – The case manager ensures Child in Care Plans are updated annually or when new information is received.

  Please note - All children in care over the age of 12 are required to have a Missing Child in Care Response Plan completed within 30 days of entering care.  Section 1.4.7, Absent and Missing Children, contains standards specific to this requirement